Sudan: Absolutely inhumane, but do they care?

These are the words of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Madam Clementine Nkweta-Salami, contained in an April 12, 2025, statement in Port-Sudan:

“I am appalled and gravely alarmed by reports emerging from the Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps, as well as the Al Fasher town in North Darfur”.

Visibly shaken to the bone, wasn’t she? Who wouldn’t be?!

Unless one has lost all respect for human life, all honour, all moral sense, in short, common humanity!

Unfortunately, it appears such total absence of everything differentiating human beings from wild beasts prevailed at Zamzam camp.  

Largest displacement

On April 11, 2025, Zamzam camp, which had been the country’s largest displacement camp, sheltering approximately 500,000 people who had already fled violence elsewhere, was the site of a catastrophic assault by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in mass killings, destruction and the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands.

This attack involved heavy shelling, drone strikes and ground incursions. UN and humanitarian groups’ reports indicate that at least 100 to over 300 civilians were killed, including women, children and 10 humanitarian aid workers.

The offensive triggered a mass exodus of up to 400,000 people, with many seeking refuge in the nearby towns of El Fasher and Tawila, according to a Reuters report. 

Survivors

Survivors, who arrived in Tawila and El Fasher, injured, traumatised and with no food or water after journeys of up to 70 km on foot, described systematic killings, including door-to-door executions, arson and attacks on people hiding in homes and mosques.

There were credible reports of looting and deliberate targeting of civilians.

Many were killed or injured by gunfire, shelling or blast injuries, and others died of thirst and starvation during their flight from the camp. 

A survivor from al-Fasher spoke to Reuters, saying: "They began invading homes, stealing... they killed several people...

After that, everyone scattered in fear. There were fires; soldiers were setting buildings ablaze to instil more terror." 

Global reactions

The attacks on the Zamzam camp have been strongly condemned by major humanitarian and rights organisations.

Save the Children, providing emergency support in Tawila to newly displaced families in urgent need of shelter, basic household items and blankets, is urgently calling on the international community to take meaningful and urgent political action to address this crisis, for an immediate ceasefire and progress towards a lasting peace agreement.

The Global Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster labelled the assaults as “brutal attacks” and a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law”, directly contravening UN Security Council resolutions that demand an end to violence against civilians and aid workers.

UNICEF publicly mourned the deaths of at least 23 children and nine aid workers, calling for immediate protection of civilians. 

Humanitarian access

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Relief International, both directly affected by the violence, expressed horror and deep concern. MSF described the situation as catastrophic and called for urgent humanitarian access, emphasising the need for a massive emergency response to address the overwhelming needs of survivors.

Relief International confirmed the targeted killing of their staff and denounced the deliberate assault on healthcare facilities by RSF.

The United Nations and several countries, including Djibouti, Germany, the UK and France, have equally expressed shock and called for an immediate halt to hostilities. 

There have been appeals for the UN Security Council to adopt stronger measures to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access, including sanctions and diplomatic pressure on those supporting the RSF, such as the United Arab Emirates. 

Security council

The UN Security Council members have urged all member states to refrain from external interference, which seeks to perpetuate the conflict.

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, denounced an “unacceptable and grave violation of international humanitarian and human rights law”, while conveying his condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Sudan.

Recalling the AU Peace and Security Council Communique [PSC/PR/COMM. 1179 (2023)] and [PSC/PR/COMM. 1191 (2024)], the AU reiterates its call for an immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities and urges those besieging El Fasher to lift the blockade and ensure unhindered humanitarian access. 

The condemnation

During a press briefing in Washington DC, Tammy Bruce, State Department’s spokesperson, voiced the condemnation of the RSF militia by the US administration. She said the administration held the RSF responsible for the assassination of at least 10 US-funded relief workers providing critical, lifesaving assistance.

The State Department must be provided with all the details, she stated, and urged more efforts to stop the flow of weapons, mercenaries and criminal organisations that are contributing to the war against the people of Sudan and starving the people of Darfur, and to bring all criminals residing in American territory to fair trial and legal accountability.

Darfur in particular has been a key battleground in the brutal war that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has left tens of thousands dead, uprooted more than 12 million and created what the UN describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Sudan Government  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sudan, in a statement on April 18, 2025, welcomed the UN Security Council’s strong condemnation of the terrorist RSF for their repeated attacks on the IDP’s camps, as well as the call to hold them accountable for their assaults and their targeting of civilians.

It further notes that the time has come for the international community to move to end the impunity the RSF group has been enjoying by taking “punitive and deterrent actions against its leadership and its regional sponsor”, thereby upholding the principle of accountability.

The article is from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sudan